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The “Pilate Stone” is the name given to a block of
limestone archaeologists uncovered while excavating the theater in Caesarea
Maritima in 1961. The stone was part of a step in a small staircase, but they
soon determined that was merely its secondary use. Originally, it had been the
dedication stone for a temple that had stood nearby.
It was an important find because it is the only
known occurrence of the name Pontius Pilate in any ancient inscription. There
were the accounts of Pilate in the Gospels, but the historical records of his
administration had disappeared completely: no papyri, no rolls, no tablets, no
(authentic) letters to Rome.
The “Pilate Stone”
(partial) inscription, which is part of a larger dedication to Tiberius Caesar,
clearly says that it was from "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea." We
know that Pilate was in office for approximately ten years, from 26-36 AD. And since
Jesus was crucified around 30 AD, it is believed that the stone was placed around
the time of, if not during, the ministry of Jesus.
The stone you see when
visiting Caesarea in only a copy. The original is on display at the Israeli
National Museum in Jerusalem.
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